Fatal crash east of Colusa

A Colusa resident has died and another was hospitalized after a collision on Highway 20 east of Colusa on Thursday.

Donald Ferry of Colusa was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jacqua Pafford of Colusa, owner of Jaki's Garden, a popular Colusa flower shop, was air-lifted to a Chico hospital and then transported to Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, according to Philip Rice, who manages the flower shop. Rice said Pafford was in good condition Friday and awaiting surgery in Sacramento.

A phone call to the hospital was not immediately returned.

Ferry, 37, was traveling eastbound around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, at an unspecified speed. For unknown reasons, Ferry allowed his 1995 Dodge pickup truck to cross into the westbound lane directly in the path of a 1995 Honda driven by 58-year old Wanda Jones of Grimes.

Ferry's truck clipped the left side of the Honda and continued going the wrong way down the westbound lane before colliding head on with a 2003 Hummer driven by Pafford, according to the Williams area California Highway Patrol.

CHP Sgt. Pat Landreth said Pafford was air-lifted to Enloe Medical Center. Pafford was conscious as emergency crews pulled her from the Hummer, Landreth said. She complained of pain and told Landreth that her legs were hurt, he said. The CHP said Thursday that Pafford suffered breaks to a thigh bone and both major bones in her lower leg.

Pafford's passenger, 64-year old Robert Jenkins of Colusa, sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment. Jones, the Honda driver, also refused medical attention after sustaining minor lacerations. Both will seek their own medical care, Landreth said.

Highway 20 was closed for two hours as responding personnel investigated the collision.

Contact Rob Parsons at 458-2121 or rparsons@tcnpress.com